The National Intelligence Agency, NIA, on Monday, still maintained its earlier stance that the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, has no secret deal or connection with the $43 million that was stashed away in a luxury apartment, at Ikoyi, Lagos State.
On claims being made by the Rivers State Government to ownership of the money, the high profile security source said: “There is no iota of truth to such claim. Like I told you, the money belongs to the NIA, and the agency has no reason to join this issue, if it were not its money.
“What does the NIA stand to benefit from shielding any Politician or Amaechi? The agency will never smear its reputation in such manner. The fund belongs to the NIA, and the agency will follow appropriate steps in reclaiming it.”
The source disclosed that the agency would allow a Federal High Court in Lagos, deliver an order of permanent forfeiture of the fund to the Federal Government, and then reclaim it later.
The source said: “The money is going back to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the NIA will write to reapply for the fund, which was actually meant for a covert operation of the agency.”
The source further said the residence where the money was recovered by EFCC operatives, at the Ikoyi area of Lagos, “Is a safe house of the NIA. You know this is a secret agency that is hardly in public glare. The money was meant for an operation, and it was kept there, and only spent with approval of the Presidency. The Presidency is aware of the funds, and gave approvals for spending.”
Recall, that Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, of a Federal High Court in Lagos, had last Thursday, ordered temporary forfeiture of the recovered money. The EFCC had last Wednesday, recovered the money, which included, $43,449,947, £27,800, and N23,218,000, at an apartment, located at flat 7B, No. 13 Osborne road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi.
The Judge however, adjourned till May 5, 2017 for person(s) to come before him to give reasons why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
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